Running successfully against the Bengals is a tough task. Not because it's the Bengals, but because the Texans haven't generated a productive running game against any team other than Tampa Bay.

The Texans average 87.9 rushing yards a game, ranking 29th. Their 3.3-yard average per carry is last. And that's too bad, because Cincinnati's defense surrenders 4.91 yards a carry - worst in the NFL.

The Texans have to find a way to keep the ball. The last thing they need is quarterback Andy Dalton throwing to his talented group of receivers or running back Jeremy Hill gouging their defense up the middle.

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If the Texans are going to have a prayer against the Bengals, they must keep Dalton and company on the sideline at Paul Brown Stadium.

Even if the Texans' running game improves, they'll need much more from their offense in general and quarterback Brian Hoyer in particular.

Coach Bill O'Brien believes if the quarterback avoids turnovers, the team has a chance of winning just about any game. So far, Hoyer has avoided throwing interceptions. He has three, but only one was his fault.

Hoyer will have to throw short passes to substitute for the run. He will also have to throw the intermediate routes that require good protection. That's where the offensive line comes in.

If the offensive linemen are going to flex their muscles in the second half of the season, Monday night would be the time to start. Too often this season, they have been bulldozed at the line of scrimmage.

Success starts up front with the linemen, and it begins with the running game, no matter if they're blocking for Arian Foster or Alfred Blue.

It's not like they haven't been working on it.

"Yeah, we met some last week before we took our break," left tackle Duane Brown said. "We met (Monday) to discuss what we have to do differently.

"The running game's a mentality. We have to have it in our minds that we're going to get it done. We have to take that approach, play in and play out, that we have to be able to run the ball effectively."

Powerful blocking up front that clears the way for an effective running game might help the Texans avoid another slow start. As the slowest starters in the league, the Texans have been outscored 141-49 in the first half - 55-23 in the first quarter and 86-26 in the second. Falling into that kind of sinkhole forces them to play catch-up in the second half when their running game is basically useless.

The Texans still have to try to run the ball. They can't just abandon it and rely solely on Hoyer, who's best when he's a game manager and not a QB who has to throw to win.

"Our running game has to improve," O'Brien said Monday. "We're spending a lot of time on it, and we're only able to be in pads once this week. We'll be in a full-padded practice on Wednesday and get it going and really practice the run game."

If the Texans run for, say, 100 yards and Hoyer extends his streak of throwing at least two TD passes to six consecutive games, it still might not be enough. The Bengals are undefeated for a reason: They're good, really good, on both sides of the ball.

While the Texans practice their running game, the Bengals are planning to be 9-0 as they continue to run away with the NFC North.